The opening ceremony of the FINA Synchro World Series commenced at Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi province, on April 17.

The FINA Synchro World Series commenced at Taiyuan, the capital of North China's Shanxi Province, on April 22, with distinctive Shanxi features that drew admiration from foreign athletes.

At the opening ceremony of the synchronized aquatic event, hostesses were dressed in Shanxi traditional opera costumes and carried guide boards in the shape of a traditional Chinese circular fan.

"The costumes are in gradient colors and completely different from each other," said Zhai Rongfang, an opera teacher at Shanxi Vocational College of Art.

"They are exactly the same costumes as those worn by young ladies from Shanxi merchants' families at the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the beginning of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)," she said. "They complement Shanxi women’s grace and low profile."

The fan-like guide boards were decorated with paper-cut patterns of historical scenes, such as the Xuankong Temple, the Qiao Family Grand Courtyard (Qiaojia Dayuan) and Pingyao, a 2,700-year-old ancient county.

"I've never seen such beautiful clothes before, nor such mysterious places," said Victoria, an athlete from the United States, as she marveled at the costumes and decorations.

"I feel sorry that I don’t have much time to go around the province," she said. "But I was impressed by the lovely city of Taiyuan on the way here."

Hostesses rehearse for the opening ceremony on April 17. [Photo/sxrb.com]